Pressurized dispensing package

ABSTRACT

A pressurized dispensing package of the type which includes an upstanding material dispensing stem having an actuator assembly mounted thereon which includes an annular resilient sealing member including a movable valving member, the valving member includes a frusto-conical actuating surface and a refill passage, a portion of which extends angularly of the direction of movement of the valving member to a port in the actuating surface. The sealing member is flexibly movable in response to movement of the valving member between a first position in which the dispensing passage is open and the sealing member seals the refill passage from the stem and a second position in which the refill passage is open and the sealing member seals the assembly dispensing passage from the stem.

9 Muted States Patent 1151 3,687,174 Paian 1 Aug. 29, 1972 [54]PRESSURIZED DISPENSING PACKAGE [57] ABSTRACT [72] Inventor: Sherman E.Palan, 5 Moose H111 St., A pressurize d dispensing p g of the yp whichSharon, Mass. 02067 Includes an upstandmg mater1al dlspensmg stem hav-[22] Filed: March 24, 1971 ing an actuator assembly mounted thereonwhich includes an annular resilient sealing member including a [21]127674 movable valving member, the valving member includes afrusto-conical actuating surface and a refill [52] US. Cl. ..141/20,141/348, ZZZ/402.16 passage, a portion of which extends angularly of the[51] Int.Cl ..B67c 3/00 direction of movement of the valving member to a[58] Field of Search ..141/3, 20, 348, 349; port in the actuatingsurface. The sealing member is 222/402.l6 flexibly movable in responseto movement of the valving member between a first position in which the[56] References Cited dispensing passage is open and the sealing memberseals the refill passage from the stem and a second UNITED STATESPATENTS position in which the refill passage is open and the 2,952,2789/1960 Wandherr ..222/402.16 Sealing member Seals the assemblydispensing Passage 3,556,171 1/1971 Gangwisch ..141/20 from thestem-Primary Examiner-Robert B, Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry MartinAtt0rneyWillis M. Ertman 21 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDmszs m2SHEET 1 [1F 2 PATENTEDmszs m2 SHEET 2 [IF 2 1 PRESSURIZED DISPENSINGPACKAGE SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to pressurizeddispensing packages and more particularly to systems that permit therefilling of such pressurized dispensing packages.

Pressurized containers are used for dispensing a wide variety ofproducts including insecticides, deodorants, antiperspirants, shavingpreparations, dessert toppings, etc. Conventional pressurized dispensingpackages are filled by the manufacturer and are discarded by theconsumer after those contents have been dispensed. A relatively largesize pressurized dispensing package reduces the cost to the user butsuch large containers are cumbersome and inconvenient and small sizepressurized dispensing packages, while convenient to store and use, arerelatively expensive in terms of material dispensed. It has beenproposed that the use of pressurized dispensing packages of relativelysmall size might be extended by arrangements that permit the user toeasily and safely refill one relatively small container refilled from alarger sized pressurized dispensing package, thus providing the consumerwith greater convenience and reducing his overall cost. Such a system,in addition to making more economical the use of small pressurizeddispensing packages, would also increase the flexibility and conveniencewith which various products packaged in this manner can be used.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel and improved systemspermitting the transfer of material from a pressurized dispensingpackage to a smaller dispensing package which a consumer can easily andsafely operate. Such systems, in addition to making economical thepurchase of small devices for special use, would also reduce the overallcost to the consumer of the dispensed product, and increase theflexibility and convenience with which various dispensed products can beused.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel and improvedrefill systems in which one of the devices includes a simple andinexpensive actuator assembly which is biased towards a normaldispensing configuration and which may be displaced by interaction witha cooperating device into a refilling configuration in which the onedevice is refilled from the cooperating device. Other objects includeproviding in such systems the structure required to prevent accidentaldischarge through the wrong one of the devices refilling and dispensingpassages.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a pressurizeddispensing package including a container for storing material to bedispensed under pressure, a discharge passage structure and a valveassembly for controlling the discharge of the material from thecontainer through the discharge passage structure, and an actuatordevice mounted on the discharge passage structure. The actuator deviceincludes a dispensing passage having an inlet port at one end and adispensing port at the other end and a transfer passage providingcommunication between the discharge passage structure and the inlet portof the dispensing passage, a resilient sealing member mounted adjacentthe inlet port; and a valving member mounted in engagement with thesealing member for movement relative to the transfer passage definingstructure. The valving member defines a refilling conduit extendingthrough the valving member to a port at an exterior surface thereof, andthe sealing member is movable in response to movement of the valvingmember between a first position in which the sealing member seals therefilling conduit from the transfer passage and a second position inwhich the sealing member seals the inlet port of the dispensing passageand the refilling conduit is in communication with the transfer passage.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealing member is annular inconfiguration and the valving member includes a frusto-conicaltransition portion and an end portion disposed in the central opening ofthe sealing member. A spring biases the valving member towards the firstposition in which a flange on the valving member engages a wall in thechamber in which the valving member is disposed and a portion of thevalving member that extends above the flange projects through an openingin the wall of the chamber. The refilling passage terminates in a portat the surface of this extending portion and a recess is providedsurrounding the port of the refilling passage which cooperates with amating surface of a second cooperating package for refilling the firstpackage from the second cooperating package.

The invention provides a convenient, reliable and economical systemenabling a user to refill a small (daughter) pressurized dispensingpackage from a larger (mother) dispensing package. The daughter packagemay be of the size suitable for carrying in a purse, for example, andneed not be discarded when the material initially loaded into it hasbeen dispensed. Rather, the daughter package may be readily refilledfrom the mother package.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, takentogether with the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressurized dispensing packageembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of the packageof FIG. 1 in its dispensing configuration;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of acooperating package in its dispensing configuration; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator assemblies of FIGS. 2and 3 in engagement and in their respective refilling configurations.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2,there is shown a pressurized dispensing package, generally designated10, including a can body 12 having a top opening on which is mounted acup 14. A valve having discharge passage structure in the form ofupstanding valve stem 16 is supported in the central bore of cup 14.

An actuator assembly, generally designated 17 and including a main body18, is mounted on stem 16. The upper portion of the stem is tightlyfitted within a socket 20 (FIG. 2) at the support base. An internaltransfer passage 22 extends upwardly from socket 20 to substantiallymidway the height of body 18, the upper portion 30 of passage 22 isfrusto-conical in configuration. A dispensing passage 24 extends,generally perpendicular to the axis of stem 16, from an inlet port atthe upper end of portion 3t) of passage 22 to dispensing port 25 inconical nozzle opening 26.

As shown, a cylindrical chamber 32, of diameter greater than that ofdischarge passage 22, extends downwardly from the top of body 18 topassage portion 30 and terminates in an annular surface 34 perpendicularto the actuator axis and coplanar with the top of passage 24. Thechamber 32 is closed at its top by a cap 36 having central opening 38and an annular depending rim 39 engaging body 18. A circular flexible,resilient sealing gasket or washer 40 of soft rubber or similarmaterial, having a central opening 42, is seated on surface 34.

A valving member 44, circular in cross-section, is mounted coaxiallywithin chamber 32. The lower end of member 44, adjacent gasket 40,includes a frustoconical transition portion 46 and a cylindrical tip 48.Tip 38, as shown in FIG. 2, is seated within the seals gasket opening42. Valving member includes an annular stop flange 50 spaced from tip 48that engages the underside of cap 36. Helical spring 52, ofsubstantially less strength than the spring within the dispensing valve,surrounds member 44, one end of the spring engaging flange 50 and theother end of the spring engaging the top of gasket 40.

The upper portion 54 of valving member 44, above flange 50, extendsthrough opening 38 of cap 36. A cylindrical recess 56 is provided in theend of upper portion 54. A refill passage 58 of smaller diameter thanrecess 56 extends axially of the valving member from recess 56 to apoint within transition portion 46 and thence angularly to port in thefrusto-conical surface of portion 46. A cover 60, having a socket 62 forreceiving the projecting upper portion 54 of valving member 44, issecured to cap 36 by integral hinge 64.

As shown, helical spring 52 biases the valving member of assembly 17toward a normal dispensing configuration (FIG. 2) in which materialdispensed through valve stem 16 will flow through the assembly to port25 along the path defined by passages 22 and 24. The resilience ofgasket 40 and spring 52 press flange Stl of the valving member againstthe underside of cap 36, tip 48 sealing the center opening of gasket 40,and gasket 40 being flat (i.e., unflexed) across the upper end ofpassage 22. Also, for normal dispensing, cover 60 is closed (see FIG. 2)with upper portion 54 of the valving member 44 within cap socket 62. Ifthe valve of container is opened, typically by pressing downwardly onthe top 6i of cover 60, material will flow from container 10 along thepath described above and out port 25.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an actuator assembly 17' fittedon the valve stem 16' of a refill aerosol device 10'. Except for thosedifferences required to provide interactuator sealing between assembliesl7 and I7, assembly 17 is substantially identical to assembly 17. Asshown, the height (above flange 50') of upper portion 54' of the valvingmember 44' of assembly 17' is slightly less than the thickness of cap36' (and also slightly less than the depth of recess 56) so that, whenflange 50' engages the underside of the cap 36', no portion of valvingmember 44' extends above the cap 36'. Accordingly, assembly 17' does notrequire a cover corresponding to cover 60 to prevent accidentalactuation of valving member 44. Further,

the diameter of upper portion 54' of valving member 44' is slightly lessthan the diameter of recess 56 of member 44, and valving member 44' doesnot include a recess corresponding to recess 56. Central opening 38 ofassembly 17' and opening 38 of assembly 17 have substantially the samediameter, there being an annular gap between upper portion 54' and theinner edge of central opening 38. Helical spring 52' biases valvingmember 44 of assembly 17 toward a normal dispensing configuration in themanner previously described with reference to assembly 17. Thus, if thevalve of container 10' is opened, typically by pressing downwardly onthe top 37 of cap 36', material will flow from container 10' to port 25'along the path defined by passages 22 and 24.

For refilling container 10 from container 10', cover 60 of container 10is opened and actuator assemblies l7, 17' are pushed coaxially togetherinto the position shown in FIG. 4. This movement first seats portion 54'within recess 56, and then pushes the valve members 44, 44' of eachassembly toward the respective valve stem l6, l6, flexing the assemblyssealing gasket 40, 40' downwardly over the inlet ends of the dispensingconduits 24, 24 and sealing the conduits 24, 24' from transfer passages22, 22'. As springs 52 and 52' are of substantially less actuating forcethan the springs within the valves of container 10 and I0 holding stemsl6 and 16 movement of valving members 44 and 44' is completed prior tomovement of stems l6 and 16'. The downward movement of the valvingmembers also forces the respective transition portions 46, 46 partiallythrough the respective gasket openings 42, 42, so that ports 59, 59' areopen and provide communication between the respective refilling passages58, 58' and passages 22, 22'. As the actuator assemblies are pressedfurther together, the respective valve stems I6, 16 of the devices willbe moved axially, opening their valves and permitting flow of materialfrom the refilling container 10 to dispenser 10 along the path definedby passage 22', refill passage 58, refill passage 58 and passage 22.

When, after refilling, the assemblies are separated, and after thevalves of containers l0 and 10 close, springs 52, 52 push the respectivevalving members 44, 44' back into their dispensing configuration, inwhich flanges 50, 5G engage caps 36, 36', and gasket 60, 40' and tips48, 48' seal refilling passages 58, 58 from passages 22, 22'. Cap 60 isthen reclosed and the refilled daughter package may be used inconventional manner.

Other embodiments within the scope of the following claims will occur tothose skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pressurized dispensing package including a container for storinga material to be dispensed under pressure, a discharge passage structureand a valve assembly for controlling the discharge of said material fromsaid container through said discharge passage structure, an actuatordevice mounted on said discharge passage structure, said actuator deviceincluding structure defining a dispensing passage having an inlet portat one end and a dispensing port at the other end and a transfer passageproviding communication between said discharge passage structure andsaid inlet port of said dispensing passage,

a resilient sealing member mounted adjacent said inlet port; and

a valving member mounted in engagement with said sealing member formovement relative to said transfer passage defining structure,

said valving member defining a refilling conduit extending through saidvalving member to a port at an exterior surface of said valving member,

said sealing member being movable in response to movement of saidvalving member between a first position in which said sealing memberseals said refilling conduit from said transfer passage and a secondposition in which said sealing member seals the inlet port of saiddispensing passage and said refilling conduit is in communication withsaid transfer passage.

2. The device of claim 1 including means biasing the assembly towardsaid first position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the valving member is circular intransverse cross-section and the refilling conduit extends generallyaxially of the valving member from an axially-facing surface thereof andthence angularly to an exterior surface thereof.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the valving member includes afrusto-conical transition portion adjacent the end thereof spaced fromthe axially-facing surface.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the refilling conduit terminates in aport at the surface of the transition portron.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said valving member includes an annularflange spaced from the transition portion and including spring meansengaging the flange for biasing the assembly towards said firstposition.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein the valving member includes aprojecting top on the side of the transition portion opposite theaxially-facing surface and the refilling conduit terminates in a port atthe surface of one of the transition portion and the tip.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the sealing member includes an openingextending therethrough, the valving member extending within andsealingly engaging the periphery of the opening in said first position.

9 The device of claim 8 wherein the sealing member is substantiallyplanar in its unflexed configuration and is supported at an area spacedfrom the opening therethrough.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the sealing member defines a portionof said transfer passage.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the valving member includes afrusto-conical transition portion adjacent the end thereof spaced fromthe axially-facing surface, the refilling conduit terminates in a portat the surface of the transition portion, and the sealing member engagesthe valving member intermediate the refilling conduit port and anaxially-facing surface thereof in said first position and engages thevalving member on the side of the refilling conduit port opposite theaxially-facing surface in said second position.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the transfer passage includes afrusto-conical wall portion, the inlet port of said dispensing passageis disposed in said frusto-conical Wall portion, and the sealing memberoverlies said inlet port at the wall portion in said second position.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said assembly defines an internalchamber in which at least a portion of the valving member is mounted andhaving an opening extending through a wall of the chamber to theexterior of the assembly, and the valving member includes aradially-projecting flange intermediate the length thereof, the portionof the valving member on the side of the flange opposite the transitionportion extending to within the wall opening.

14. The device of claim 13 including spring means engaging one surfaceof the flange for biasing the assembly toward its first position andwherein another surface of the flange engages said chamber wall in saidfirst position.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the portion of the valving member onthe side of the flange opposite the transition portion includes anaxially-facing end surface and a cavity extending within the member fromthe end surface.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the assembly includes a coverhingedly movable between a position overlying the cavity opening and aposition spaced from the cavity opening.

17. A system for refilling one pressurized dispensing package fromanother comprising, in combination:

the pressurized dispensing package as claimed in claim 1; and

a second pressurized dispensing package having a material dispensingstructure adapted for mating engagement with said valving member of theactuator device of said first package,

said packages being arranged so that relative movement of said twopackages towards one another with the material dispensing structure ofsaid second package in mating engagement with the valving member of theactuator device of said first package actuates the valves of said twopackages to permit flow of material from one of the packages into theother.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the second package includes anactuator assembly, a transfer passage, a dispensing passage having aninlet port at one end and a dispensing port at the other end, aresilient sealing member mounted adjacent said inlet port, and a valvingmember mounted in engagement with said sealing member for movementrelative to said transfer passage and defining a refilling conduitinterior thereto, a portion of which extends angularly of the directionof movement of the valving member to a port at an exterior surface ofthe valving member, said sealing member being movable in response tomovement of said valving member between a first configuration in whichsaid sealing member seals said refilling conduit from said transferpassage and a second configuration in which said sealing member sealssaid dispensing passage from said transfer passage and said refillingconduit is in communication with said transfer passage.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the valving member of one of saidpackages includes a recess for receiving a portion of the valving memberof the other of said packages, the refilling conduits of the respectivevalving members being in communication when said portion of the valvingmember of said other package is seated within said recess of the valvingmember of said one package.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the assembly of each of said packagesincludes an internal chamber in which at least a portion of the valvingmember of the respective assembly is mounted and an opening extendingthrough a wall of the chamber to the exterior of the respectiveassembly, each of the valving members includes a radially-projectingflange intermediate the length thereof and a portion on the side of theflange thereof opposite the sealing member of the respective assemblyprojecting into the opening, the height of one of the projecting portionof the valving member of one of the assemblies being greater than thethickness of the wall of the one assembly and the height of theprojecting portion of the valving member of the other of the assembliesbeing not greater than the thickness of the wall of the other assembly.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein one of the projecting portions is ofgreater diameter than the other of the projecting portions, the openingsof both assemblies are of diameter substantially equal to that of thegreater diameter projecting portion, and the recess is of diametersubstantially equal to that of the lesser diameter projecting portion.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Inventor(s) Sherman E. Palan It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

After the data under "Inventor" and before the data In the Abstract,line 4, "including" should be --and;

lines 5-6, "includes" should be -including-.

Column 5, line 37, "top" should be -tip-.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of April 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM 1 0-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O376-P69 UVS. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0-366-334

1. In a pressurized dispensing package including a container for storinga material to be dispensed under pressure, a discharge passage structureand a valve assembly for controlling the discharge of said material fromsaid container through said discharge passage structure, an actuatordevice mounted on said discharge passage structure, said actuator deviceincluding structure defining a dispensing passage having an inlet portat one end and a dispensing port at the other end and a transfer passageproviding communication between said discharge passage structure andsaid inlet port of said dispensing passage, a resilient sealing membermounted adjacent said inlet port; and a valving member mounted inengagement with said sealing member for movement relative to saidtransfer passage defining structure, said valving member defining arefilling conduit extending through said valving member to a port at anexterior surface of said valving member, said sealing member beingmovable in response to movement of said valving member between a firstposition in which said sealing member seals said refilling conduit fromsaid transfer passage and a second position in which said sealing memberseals the inlet port of said dispensing passage and said refillingconduit is in communication with said transfer passage.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 including means biasing the assembly toward said first position.3. The device of claim 1 wherein the valving member is circular intransverse cross-section and the refilling conduit extends generallyaxially of the valving member from an axially-facing surface thereof andthence angularly to an exterior surface thereof.
 4. The device of claim3 wherein the valving member includes a frusto-conical transitionportion adjacent the end thereof spaced from the axially-facing surface.5. The device of claim 4 wherein the refilling conduit terminates in apOrt at the surface of the transition portion.
 6. The device of claim 4wherein said valving member includes an annular flange spaced from thetransition portion and including spring means engaging the flange forbiasing the assembly towards said first position.
 7. The device of claim4 wherein the valving member includes a projecting tip on the side ofthe transition portion opposite the axially-facing surface and therefilling conduit terminates in a port at the surface of one of thetransition portion and the tip.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein thesealing member includes an opening extending therethrough, the valvingmember extending within and sealingly engaging the periphery of theopening in said first position. 9 The device of claim 8 wherein thesealing member is substantially planar in its unflexed configuration andis supported at an area spaced from the opening therethrough.
 10. Thedevice of claim 9 wherein the sealing member defines a portion of saidtransfer passage.
 11. The device of claim 8 wherein the valving memberincludes a frusto-conical transition portion adjacent the end thereofspaced from the axially-facing surface, the refilling conduit terminatesin a port at the surface of the transition portion, and the sealingmember engages the valving member intermediate the refilling conduitport and an axially-facing surface thereof in said first position andengages the valving member on the side of the refilling conduit portopposite the axially-facing surface in said second position.
 12. Thedevice of claim 11 wherein the transfer passage includes afrusto-conical wall portion, the inlet port of said dispensing passageis disposed in said frusto-conical wall portion, and the sealing memberoverlies said inlet port at the wall portion in said second position.13. The device of claim 11 wherein said assembly defines an internalchamber in which at least a portion of the valving member is mounted andhaving an opening extending through a wall of the chamber to theexterior of the assembly, and the valving member includes aradially-projecting flange intermediate the length thereof, the portionof the valving member on the side of the flange opposite the transitionportion extending to within the wall opening.
 14. The device of claim 13including spring means engaging one surface of the flange for biasingthe assembly toward its first position and wherein another surface ofthe flange engages said chamber wall in said first position.
 15. Thedevice of claim 13 wherein the portion of the valving member on the sideof the flange opposite the transition portion includes an axially-facingend surface and a cavity extending within the member from the endsurface.
 16. The device of claim 13 wherein the assembly includes acover hingedly movable between a position overlying the cavity openingand a position spaced from the cavity opening.
 17. A system forrefilling one pressurized dispensing package from another comprising, incombination: the pressurized dispensing package as claimed in claim 1;and a second pressurized dispensing package having a material dispensingstructure adapted for mating engagement with said valving member of theactuator device of said first package, said packages being arranged sothat relative movement of said two packages towards one another with thematerial dispensing structure of said second package in matingengagement with the valving member of the actuator device of said firstpackage actuates the valves of said two packages to permit flow ofmaterial from one of the packages into the other.
 18. The system ofclaim 17 wherein the second package includes an actuator assembly, atransfer passage, a dispensing passage having an inlet port at one endand a dispensing port at the other end, a resilient sealing membermounted adjacent said inlet port, and a valving member mounted inengagement with said sealing member for movement relative to saidtransfer passage and definiNg a refilling conduit interior thereto, aportion of which extends angularly of the direction of movement of thevalving member to a port at an exterior surface of the valving member,said sealing member being movable in response to movement of saidvalving member between a first configuration in which said sealingmember seals said refilling conduit from said transfer passage and asecond configuration in which said sealing member seals said dispensingpassage from said transfer passage and said refilling conduit is incommunication with said transfer passage.
 19. The system of claim 18wherein the valving member of one of said packages includes a recess forreceiving a portion of the valving member of the other of said packages,the refilling conduits of the respective valving members being incommunication when said portion of the valving member of said otherpackage is seated within said recess of the valving member of said onepackage.
 20. The system of claim 19 wherein the assembly of each of saidpackages includes an internal chamber in which at least a portion of thevalving member of the respective assembly is mounted and an openingextending through a wall of the chamber to the exterior of therespective assembly, each of the valving members includes aradially-projecting flange intermediate the length thereof and a portionon the side of the flange thereof opposite the sealing member of therespective assembly projecting into the opening, the height of one ofthe projecting portion of the valving member of one of the assembliesbeing greater than the thickness of the wall of the one assembly and theheight of the projecting portion of the valving member of the other ofthe assemblies being not greater than the thickness of the wall of theother assembly.
 21. The system of claim 20 wherein one of the projectingportions is of greater diameter than the other of the projectingportions, the openings of both assemblies are of diameter substantiallyequal to that of the greater diameter projecting portion, and the recessis of diameter substantially equal to that of the lesser diameterprojecting portion.